Time-Traveling Romance Captivates Audiences Both Domestically and Internationally

Courtesy of TVN

Since its premiere on April 8, cable channel tvN's drama "Lovely Runner" has swiftly risen through the ranks of popular Korean dramas, ultimately claiming the top spot in its fourth week.

According to statistics released by K-content analysis agency GoodData Corporation on Wednesday, "Lovely Runner" surpassed Tving's "Queen of Tears" to become the most popular Korean drama following the conclusion of "Queen of Tears" on April 28.
 

▲ Courtesy of TVN

The drama's success can be attributed not only to its storyline but also to its cast. Byeon Woo-seok, portraying male lead Ryu Seon-jae, currently ranks as Korea's second most popular actor, while Kim Hye-yoon, playing female protagonist Lim Sol, holds the second position among actresses, according to GoodData Corporation’s popularity aggregator, FUNdex.

This marks Byeon Woo-seok's third collaboration with Kim Hye-yoon, having previously starred together in tvN's "Record of Youth" (2020) and the third season of web drama "The Omniscient Viewpoint on Crushes" (2017).

"Lovely Runner" follows the time-traveling romance between Seon-jae, a deceased band vocalist, and Sol, a devoted fan grappling with his suicide. The narrative revolves around Sol's journey back 15 years in time to prevent the events leading to Seon-jae's tragic demise. The 16-episode drama premiered on Feb. 8. 

▲ The poster for "Lovely Runner" / Courtesy of CJ ENMAccording to Nielsen Korea, the first episode of "Lovely Runner" garnered a viewership rating of 3.07 percent, steadily increasing to over 4.75 percent for the two episodes aired this week.

The drama's popularity extends beyond domestic borders, as it ranked first in 133 countries on streaming service Rakuten Viki, a U.S.-based platform specializing in Asian content.

With six episodes remaining, the final two episodes of "Lovely Runner" are scheduled to air during the last week of May.

Sayart 

Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com